Ereğli, Devrek and Filyos 2026: Archaeology, Crafts and the Coast

عاشق الأناضول · Oct 4, 2026

The craft of shaping and decorating Devrek's wooden walking sticks by hand.

Ereğli, Devrek and Filyos reveal three complementary sides of Zonguldak province. Ereğli combines maritime history and museums, inland Devrek is known for its walking-stick makers, and coastal Filyos has a castle and the ancient city of Tios. Each reflects a history of work and settlement, expressed through a port, a craft town or a layered archaeological site.

Ereğli and Its Maritime Past

Karadeniz Ereğli stands on the Black Sea. Its heritage combines the ancient town with the memory of seafaring and local livelihoods. Archaeological remains and museums help explain these successive periods, while the harbour and coast show the sea's role in settlement and work. This long, varied history distinguishes Ereğli from Zonguldak city, whose modern growth is more closely associated with coal.

The Gazi Alemdar Ship Museum commemorates maritime events during the War of Independence. The vessel on display is a replica created to preserve that story, rather than the original ship. Understanding this distinction helps explain the museum's purpose and its account of the sea and the local community.

Halil Paşa Mansion and Its Collections

Ereğli Museum occupies historic Halil Paşa Mansion, whose architecture adds another dimension to the collections. Archaeological exhibits include pottery, glass, jewellery, coins and stone objects. Ethnographic displays cover clothing, weaving and everyday implements. Elpek, a traditional local cloth, is particularly closely associated with the area's work and domestic life.

Some rooms recreate traditional home interiors, making their furniture and arrangement part of the story. The museum connects the region's ancient past with more recent local heritage, while its façades and interior spaces illustrate late Ottoman domestic architecture.

Filyos Castle on its headland overlooking the Black Sea.

Devrek and the Walking-Stick Makers

Inland Devrek is renowned for handmade walking sticks whose significance extends beyond their practical use. The craft involves selecting wood, shaping the shaft, making the handle, carving and decoration. Plant, animal and geometric motifs appear in the designs. Twisted forms and snakes are familiar features, while handles, materials and details vary with the maker.

Workshops show how skills pass between generations, connecting woodland resources with a finished object. The walking stick has become closely identified with Devrek's cultural heritage. Watching the stages of production and comparing individual pieces reveals more than treating them as interchangeable souvenirs: each contains the maker's time, experience and judgement.

Filyos and Ancient Tios

Filyos lies in Çaycuma district, with a castle on a headland above the sea. Remains from several periods occupy the hill; stonework and fortifications reveal the position's defensive importance. The town is associated with ancient Tios, which developed near the coast through maritime and river trade.

Features described at the archaeological site include a theatre, baths, harbour remains, a temple, and other religious and funerary structures. Their variety reveals a city with civic, economic and religious functions. Continuing excavation adds to the picture. Filyos combines coast, castle and archaeological research, complementing Devrek's crafts and Ereğli's museums.

Visiting Notes

Check museum access and which parts of Tios are open before visiting. Respect excavation boundaries and steep ground around the castle, and leave archaeological objects in place. Ask before photographing craftspeople inside workshops. At the Alemdar museum, remember that the current vessel is a museum replica commemorating the original ship.

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Ereğli, Devrek and Filyos 2026: Archaeology, Crafts and the Coast

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